Best Chicken Breed as a Comfort Pet?

[Dani4Hedgies]

Strawberry my Frazzle Red Cochin that is my profile pic is also my anti-stress stop panic attacks asap and diabetic issues alerting house chicken. She loves to cuddle and then just as happy will hop off my bed run and get a drink help herself to whatever I'm eating that I have placed into "her" dinner bowl on my tray and then cuddle perch and just hang out. She will even follow me into the bath tub to watch me take a bath (aka the profile pic) I think she is worried I'm going to drown. When I do take her outside to play with the rest of the flock she will happy peck away at the ground but she is always stopping and looking up for me. And should a rooster catch sight of her she will run straight to me and hop up into my arms or peck my shoe and look up at me which is her sign to HELP pick me up Mom.. she knows her name and will come running whenever you call her. I didn't ever intend on having a house chicken however I got her in a bunch as a pullet at about 4 months and we just bonded.

 

[RollTideChicken]

Maybe, but who doesn’t like a pet that poops breakfast?

Yea no, I agree, but the OP was looking for a comfort pet to help her out. And we suggested, if a chicken was her choice pet, then she really needed 2. But that got me to thinking would a rooster do better than a hen without a feathered friend.

 

[chickens really]

Other great pets instead of a Chicken as therapy are Lop eared Rabbits...Cuddly and sweet...

 

[Aiwenn]

Other great pets instead of a Chicken as therapy are Lop eared Rabbits...Cuddly and sweet...

As cute as they are, I do not like rodents or other mammals in my personal life.

 

[chickencheeper]

I graduated high school last year. I switched high schools after 10th grade because of bullying. My new high school was the best choice. Everyone was so nice. The really bad bullying happened in 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. Yes life does get better.

Me too, im currently in 8th grade and the bullying has calmed down a bit(I now know how to deal with it) but I experienced it during elementary school as well. Chickens and other animals have helped me through it and there are many stories that show them as they are- loving and caring

 

[junebuggena]

I think you may need to adjust your expectations. The reality is that the majority of chickens, regardless of breed, do not enjoy handling. Lap chickens are the exceptions, not the general rule. If you want to keep chickens as pets, you have to realize they aren't puppies.
Silkies and Cochins do tend to be more 'pet-like' than other breeds, because they have been selectively bred for those traits for many, many years.
Black sexlinks are production birds, that are 50% Barred Rock. Barred Rocks are very active, inquisitive birds. They are very smart and very good foragers. They would rather be off trying to work out how to get into the room you keep the feed in rather than sit in your lap all day. I like to think of them as the border collies of the chicken world. Fun birds to have around, but challenging to keep occupied.
You basically wanted a toy poodle, but you got border collie mix instead. And now you are trying to force that border collie mix to conform to the behavior of the toy poodle. It's just not going to make either of you happy.

 

[chickencheeper]

Me too, im currently in 8th grade and the bullying has calmed down a bit(I now know how to deal with it) but I experienced it during elementary school as well. Chickens and other animals have helped me through it and there are many stories that show them as they are- loving and caring

@lacyDuckwing story is the one I was referring to

 

[Aiwenn]

I think you may need to adjust your expectations. The reality is that the majority of chickens, regardless of breed, do not enjoy handling. Lap chickens are the exceptions, not the general rule. If you want to keep chickens as pets, you have to realize they aren't puppies.
Silkies and Cochins do tend to be more 'pet-like' than other breeds, because they have been selectively bred for those traits for many, many years.
Black sexlinks are production birds, that are 50% Barred Rock. Barred Rocks are very active, inquisitive birds. They are very smart and very good foragers. They would rather be off trying to work out how to get into the room you keep the feed in rather than sit in your lap all day. I like to think of them as the border collies of the chicken world. Fun birds to have around, but challenging to keep occupied.
You basically wanted a toy poodle, but you got border collie mix instead. And now you are trying to force that border collie mix to conform to the behavior of the toy poodle. It's just not going to make either of you happy.

You are right. I guess I'm going to follow my gut on it and rehome her.

 

[birdofhermes]

I think everyone believes their one is the best but i would recommend a legbar cross rooster like my Marty. He loves to cuddle and is good with dogs. He poops outside or if he will go in his litter box if i leave it under his perch. He doesn't crow that much anymore and none of the neighbours seem to mind him. Lots of roosters in need of good homes!

 

[Peaches Lee]

I think everyone believes their one is the best but i would recommend a legbar cross rooster like my Marty. He loves to cuddle and is good with dogs. He poops outside or if he will go in his litter box if i leave it under his perch. He doesn't crow that much anymore and none of the neighbours seem to mind him. Lots of roosters in need of good homes!
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OMG, he's so cute! I love him closing his eye, looks like he's in sheer bliss!